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Free Practice Questions for PQSC Quantity Surveyor Registration

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Sample PQSC Quantity Surveyor Registration Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PQSC Quantity Surveyor Registration exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under section 19(1) of the Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council Act 2013, who may practise quantity surveying in Mauritius?
A.Any person holding a Council-approved degree in quantity surveying
B.Any building contractor registered with the Construction Industry Authority
C.A person registered as a professional quantity surveyor under section 20
D.A professional member of RICS who has notified the Council that they intend to practise
Explanation: Section 19(1) provides that no person shall practise quantity surveying in Mauritius unless he is a professional quantity surveyor, meaning a person registered under section 20. Section 19(2) allows limited exceptions, such as a qualified person providing services that do not include final decisions under the direct responsibility and supervision of a professional quantity surveyor.
2Under standard methods of measurement such as NRM2 and SMM7, how are isolated reinforced concrete pad foundations measured?
A.In square metres, stating the plan area of each base
B.In linear metres along the centre line of the bases
C.In tonnes, based on the weight of fresh concrete
D.In cubic metres, calculated from the net dimensions shown on the drawings
Explanation: In-situ concrete is measured by volume in cubic metres from net dimensions, without allowance for waste or bulking, and described and classified as the rules require. Formwork and reinforcement are measured as separate items.
3A quantity surveyor takes off quantities for a rectangular reinforced concrete ground beam measuring 12.0 m in length, 400 mm in width, and 600 mm in depth. What is the net volume of in-situ concrete to be billed in the Bill of Quantities (BOQ)?
A.1.44 m^3
B.2.88 m^3
C.4.80 m^3
D.7.20 m^3
Explanation: Net concrete volume is calculated as Volume = Length * Width * Depth = 12.0 m * 0.40 m * 0.60 m = 2.88 m^3.
4When building up a unit rate for 1 m^3 of site-mixed C25 reinforced concrete, a quantity surveyor finds direct costs of MUR 3,200 for materials, MUR 800 for labour and MUR 400 for plant. The contractor adds 10% for site overheads, then 15% for head office overheads and profit on the total of direct cost plus site overheads. What is the final unit rate?
A.MUR 5,566.00
B.MUR 4,400.00
C.MUR 4,840.00
D.MUR 5,500.00
Explanation: Direct cost = 3,200 + 800 + 400 = MUR 4,400. Adding 10% site overheads gives 4,400 × 1.10 = MUR 4,840. Adding 15% on that total gives 4,840 × 1.15 = MUR 5,566.00.
5What is the 'bulking factor' of excavated soil, and why does it matter to a quantity surveyor?
A.The reduction in volume when fill is compacted by rollers
B.The increase in volume when soil is excavated from its compact in-situ state, which affects the number of truck loads when pricing disposal
C.The extra excavation allowed around a foundation to give working space
D.The settlement of backfill after it has been placed
Explanation: Soil loosens and gains volume when it is dug out because voids are introduced. Bills of quantities normally measure excavation and disposal as the net in-situ (bank) volume, so the estimator must allow for bulking in the rates when sizing haulage and pricing disposal. The factor varies with soil type and is higher for rock.
6In a bill of quantities, what is the difference between a Prime Cost (PC) Sum and a Provisional Sum?
A.A PC Sum covers work whose scope cannot be defined at tender, whereas a Provisional Sum covers work by a nominated subcontractor or supplier
B.A PC Sum is a fixed allowance that is never adjusted, whereas a Provisional Sum is adjusted
C.A PC Sum is an allowance for work or goods to be provided by a nominated subcontractor or supplier, whereas a Provisional Sum is an allowance for work that cannot be fully defined or quantified at tender
D.Both are contingencies that the contractor may spend at its own discretion
Explanation: A PC Sum covers work or materials from a nominated subcontractor or supplier, with the contractor pricing its own profit and attendance separately. A Provisional Sum covers work that is foreseen but cannot yet be fully designed or quantified. Both are expended, adjusted or omitted on the instructions of the contract administrator and settled in the final account.
7The cumulative valuation of work to date for Interim Certificate No. 4 is MUR 15,000,000. Retention is 5% (no limit has yet been reached), advance payment recovered to date totals MUR 1,000,000, and the total net amount certified in previous certificates is MUR 8,000,000. What is the net amount due on this certificate?
A.MUR 6,250,000
B.MUR 6,000,000
C.MUR 7,000,000
D.MUR 5,250,000
Explanation: Gross valuation to date = MUR 15,000,000. Less retention at 5% = MUR 750,000, and less advance recovered to date = MUR 1,000,000, giving MUR 13,250,000 due to date. Less previously certified MUR 8,000,000, the net due now is MUR 5,250,000.
8What is the primary function of daywork records (daywork sheets) in contract administration?
A.To record the labour, plant and materials actually used on varied work that cannot properly be measured and valued at bill rates, for verification by the contract administrator
B.To record the weekly attendance of the contractor's workforce for payroll
C.To value all variations, including those similar to existing bill items
D.To record overtime worked by the contractor to recover delays for which it is responsible
Explanation: Where varied work cannot reasonably be measured and valued using bill rates or fair rates, it may be valued on a daywork basis. Daywork sheets record the time of each trade, plant hours and materials used, and are verified and signed by the employer's representative as contemporary evidence.
9Under civil engineering and building methods of measurement (such as CESMM4, SMM7 and NRM2), how is bar reinforcement normally measured and billed?
A.By the volume of the reinforced concrete member
B.By mass in tonnes, calculated from the lengths of each bar diameter in the bending schedules and the standard mass per metre
C.By linear metres of each bar diameter, without conversion to mass
D.By the area of formwork to the member
Explanation: Bar reinforcement is billed by mass, stated by bar type and diameter. The QS totals the lengths of each diameter from the bar bending schedules and multiplies by the nominal mass per metre (approximately d^2 / 162 kg/m), with no allowance for rolling margins or waste.
10A bar bending schedule lists 1,200 m of 16 mm high-yield reinforcement. Using mass per metre = d^2 / 162 kg/m, what mass of 16 mm bar should be billed?
A.0.12 tonnes
B.1.07 tonnes
C.1.90 tonnes
D.2.96 tonnes
Explanation: Mass per metre = 16^2 / 162 = 256 / 162 = 1.580 kg/m. Total mass = 1,200 × 1.580 = 1,896 kg, or 1.90 tonnes.

About the PQSC Quantity Surveyor Registration Exam

Registration with the Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council is required to practise quantity surveying or use the protected titles in Mauritius under the Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council Act 2013 (Act 7 of 2013). Graduates need an approved quantity surveying degree and 36 months of supervised training, documented in the PQSC's log book, diary, reports and critical analysis, followed by a one-hour Registration Board interview. OpenExamPrep's questions are independent multiple-choice practice, not an official PQSC paper.

Exam sponsor: Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council of Mauritius (PQSC). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Statutory registration under section 20 of the Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council Act 2013: applicants enrol with the Council, complete the training and documentation, and apply; the Registrar refers the application to the Registration Board (a chairperson and 2 assessors, each a Professional Quantity Surveyor with at least 12 years' experience), which interviews the applicant and makes recommendations to the Council. Professional members of RICS follow a shorter route without the experience reports but are still interviewed.

Time Limit

One hour (interview)

Passing Score

Pass/fail on the Registration Board's recommendation and the Council's decision; a referred applicant needs at least 6 months of further training (graduate route) or 3 months (RICS route)

Exam / Certification Fees

Rs 1,500 processing fee and Rs 5,000 registration fee, both non-refundable and payable with the application; annual fee MUR 5,000

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Not published

Quantification and Costing of Construction Works

Standard methods of measurement, taking-off, bills of quantities, rate build-up, PC and provisional sums, dayworks and interim valuations (PQSC competency MC15).

Not published

Procurement and Tendering

Procurement routes, Public Procurement Act 2006 methods and procedures, bid opening and evaluation, bid security and challenges (PQSC competency MC16, required at Level 3).

Not published

Contract Administration and Contract Practice

Standard forms such as FIDIC, variations, extensions of time, delay damages, claims, securities, certificates and dispute resolution (PQSC competencies MC05, MC06, MC14 and MC18).

Not published

Commercial Management and Project Financial Control

Cost planning, cost reporting and forecasting, cash flow, cost value reconciliation, feasibility appraisal, value and risk management and whole-life costing (PQSC competencies MC10, MC12, MC17 and optional competencies).

Not published

Conduct Rules, Ethics and Legal Framework

PQSC Act 2013, the PQSC Code of Practice (GN 157 of 2016), the Construction Industry Authority Act 2023, anti-corruption law, health and safety and sustainability (PQSC competencies MC01, MC08 and MC11).

Preparing for the PQSC Quantity Surveyor Registration Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Pass/fail on the Registration Board's recommendation and the Council's decision; a referred applicant needs at least 6 months of further training (graduate route) or 3 months (RICS route)
  • Assessment: Statutory registration under section 20 of the Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council Act 2013: applicants enrol with the Council, complete the training and documentation, and apply; the Registrar refers the application to the Registration Board (a chairperson and 2 assessors, each a Professional Quantity Surveyor with at least 12 years' experience), which interviews the applicant and makes recommendations to the Council. Professional members of RICS follow a shorter route without the experience reports but are still interviewed.
  • Time limit: One hour (interview)
  • Exam / certification fees: Rs 1,500 processing fee and Rs 5,000 registration fee, both non-refundable and payable with the application; annual fee MUR 5,000 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is registration with the PQSC mandatory to practise quantity surveying in Mauritius?

Yes. Section 19(1) of the Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council Act 2013 provides that no person shall practise quantity surveying in Mauritius unless registered as a professional quantity surveyor, subject to limited exceptions such as supervised work. Under section 43, unregistered practice or use of titles such as 'Professional Quantity Surveyor' or 'Quantity Surveyor' is an offence punishable by a fine of up to Rs 100,000 and imprisonment of up to 2 years.

What are the requirements for PQSC registration?

Applicants must be at least 21, meet the conduct requirements, hold a Council-approved quantity surveying degree and show at least 3 years of approved post-qualification experience. Under the PQSC's guidelines, graduates complete 36 months of training supervised by a Professional Quantity Surveyor, keep a Daily Diary and Log Book, submit a 1,500-word Interim Report at 18 months, record at least 20 hours of professional development a year, and submit a 3,000-word Critical Analysis before a one-hour interview.

What fees are required for PQSC registration?

The PQSC registration form states that applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable Rs 1,500 processing fee and a Rs 5,000 registration fee. The PQSC has reduced the annual fee for registered Professional Quantity Surveyors from MUR 6,000 to MUR 5,000; under section 22 it is due by 30 November for the following year.

Is there a different route for RICS members?

Yes. Under section 20(3), professional members of RICS in quantity surveying need not submit the experience evidence and project reports, but they must still be interviewed by the Registration Board. The PQSC flowchart schedules the interview within one month of application, and a referred applicant needs at least 3 months of further training.

Does this practice bank simulate the official PQSC registration interview?

No. This question bank is an independent English-language multiple-choice study aid created by OpenExamPrep, covering measurement, procurement, contract practice, financial control and professional conduct. It does not replace the training records, the critical analysis or the Registration Board interview.